<%
=begin
apps: cassandra
platforms: kubernetes, tanzu-application-catalog
id: customize_new_instance
title: Customize a new Apache Cassandra instance
category: configuration
weight: 40
highlight: 40
=end %>

The [<%= variable :catalog_name, :platform %> Apache Cassandra image](https://github.com/bitnami/bitnami-docker-cassandra) image supports the use of custom scripts to initialize a fresh instance. This may be done by creating a Kubernetes ConfigMap that includes the necessary *sh* or *cql* scripts and passing this ConfigMap to the chart via the *initDBConfigMap* parameter.

The scripts are mounted in the */docker-entrypoint.initdb* directory.

> TIP: If the scripts contain sensitive information, use the *initDBSecret* parameter as well to protect them.

This chart also supports mounting custom configuration file(s) for Apache Cassandra. This is achieved by setting the *existingConfiguration* parameter with the name of a ConfigMap that includes the custom configuration file(s). Here is an example of deploying the chart with a custom configuration file stored in a ConfigMap named *cassandra-configuration*:

    existingConfiguration=cassandra-configuration

> NOTE: Using the *existingConfiguration* parameter will override any other Apache Cassandra configuration variable set or passed to the chart.
